Jamea Environmental Plantings Project

The Jamea Environmental Plantings Project is a large-scale reforestation initiative located at the "Jamea Aggregation," approximately 45km southwest of Trangie and 25km east of Tottenham in the Central West region of New South Wales. Registered in September 2024, the project covers a substantial area of 6,578 hectares. Prior to its registration, the land was a well-regarded mixed-farming operation known for producing winter crops such as wheat, canola, and barley, as well as supporting livestock grazing.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings methodology, which involves establishing permanent native forests on land previously cleared for agriculture. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the proponent, Carbon Neutral Pty Ltd, must plant native species at a density sufficient to achieve forest crown cover (typically over 200 stems per hectare). The carbon sequestration is modelled using the FullCAM software, which accounts for local variables such as soil and climate.

The local environment consists of flat to slightly undulating terrain with soils ranging from productive grey self-mulching clays to red loams, typical of the Cobar Peneplain and Central West Slopes. The region experiences a semi-arid climate, making moisture retention strategies critical for seedling establishment. This project represents a significant shift from high-intensity agriculture to conservation land use, likely aiming to create a biodiversity corridor in addition to carbon abatement.